Can’t delete slide in PowerPoint: Troubleshooting tips

PowerPoint is problematic without slides, albeit it’s just as problematic when you aren’t able to remove any slides at all. Humans are after all prone to making mistakes. Fortunately, this is quite the easy fix.

Solution (revert to normal view):

1. Open your presentation.
2. Navigate to “View” via the ribbon.
3. Select “Normal” as your view.
4. Right click the  slide you wish to delete.
5. Select “Delete.”

Below we’ll be going over this step-by-step with images, so don’t worry if you couldn’t follow. We’ll additionally be covering how you can hide and unhide slides, as opposed to deleting them.

Quick links:

• Deleting a slide in PowerPoint
• Hiding a slide in PowerPoint
• Revealing a hidden slide in PowerPoint

Deleting a slide in PowerPoint

Step 1 – Switch to view tab

• Find “View” in the ribbon and click it to switch to the tab. From here we’ll be able to check our current viewmode and switch to the normal view if it isn’t already active.

Step 2 – Ensure “Normal” is selected

• When you’re using alternate view modes, PowerPoint may prevent you from accessing the slide deletion options. As such, it’s important to revert to the normal view before trying to delete anything.

Step 3 – Right click the unwanted slide

• Right clicking the unwanted slide will bring up its context menu. We’ll need that to access the delete option.

Step 4 – Select “Delete Slide”

• After selecting “Delete Slide” your slide will be removed. If you have made a mistake, the action (provided it was the most recent one) will be reversible via the ctrl+z shortcut on Windows.

Hiding a slide in PowerPoint

Step 1 – Right click the soon to be hidden slide

• We’ll need to bring up the slide’s context menu if we want to hide it. To do so, hover over the slide and give it a right click.

Step 2 – Select “Hide Slide”

• From the context menu, you’ll be able to find and select “Hide Slide.” Selecting this option will, as implied by its name, hide your slide. This will be indicated by the slide shifting transparent.

Revealing hidden slide in PowerPoint

Step 1 – Right click the hidden slide

• We’ll need to bring up the slide’s context menu if we want to reveal it. To do so, hover over the slide and give it a right click.

• Step 2 – Select “Hide Slide”
• From the context menu, you’ll be able to find and select “Hide Slide.” Selecting this option will, despite its name, reveal your slide. This will be indicated by the slide no longer appearing transparent.

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